Hi Melissa,

Well I am to 9/3/95 an I did not see too many people answering your question.  I
find the most important thing for hospital visits is to have hospital privileges
at the hospitals you wish to visit.  I have privileges at 3 local hospitals.
You need to get a sponsor.  When I first went into practice, I had an ob
sponsor.  Then I could not get pediatric referrals.  When I worked for a large
Ped. group, I could no longer take ob referrals; so when I went back out on my
own, I got my Family Practice Dr. to sponsor me at  least at the 2 hospitals she
practices.  I do have a ped. sponsor me at the hospital that is farther away and
they are the ones who call me in.  To tell you the truth, moms do not stay in
the hospital long enough to be seen by me.  I use to do 75% hospital and 25%
office.  Now it is more like 98% office and 2% hospital.  Besides a sponsor you
need malpractice insurance.  I can give you the  name of the company I use if
you mail me direct.

Diane Herforth, IBCLC
Tacoma WA